Italian authorities arrested nine individuals suspected of raising approximately €7 million for Hamas under the guise of humanitarian aid. The arrests, made as part of a joint initiative between Italy's counter-terror police and financial police, followed an investigation into suspicious financial activity preceding the October 7th attack.

According to a police statement, the suspects allegedly collected the money ostensibly as humanitarian aid for Palestinian civilians but instead channeled it to the militant group through a "complex fundraising system." The investigation highlights the challenges in detecting and preventing the misuse of charitable donations for terrorist financing, prompting increased scrutiny of international financial networks.

The suspects are "specifically accused of carrying out financing operations believed to have contributed to terrorist activities," police said. In addition to the arrests, authorities seized more than €8 million in assets as part of the investigation. The probe, according to BBC World, has been ongoing for more than two years.

The case underscores the ongoing efforts by international law enforcement to disrupt the financial networks that support terrorist organizations. The investigation remains active, and authorities are continuing to trace the flow of funds and identify any additional individuals involved.